IAFC preview: Mark Keane could be the difference for Mitchelstown in crunch tie

Mitchelstown will look to go one better than last year in the McCarthy Insurance Group IAFC this weekend.

The Avondhu team face Ilen Rovers this afternoon in the quarter-finals at Newcestown (4.30pm).

Mitchelstown fell to Gabriel Rangers at this juncture 12 months ago, but they are arguably in a better position both in performance and confidence levels right now.

They come into this one on the back of an impressive 3-13 to 0-9 triumph over local rivals Kildorrery in their final group game.

Cork senior footballer Cathail O’Mahony is probably the best footballer at this grade when he’s on song. He scored 1-6 last time out. 

Mitchelstown are also boosted by the return of Aussie Rules player Mark Keane, who is home for a short period given it’s the off-season for him Down Under.

For Ilen Rovers, they are in new territory. They have battled relegation for the last number of years.

They were unsuccessful on three occasions, losing their Premier SFC status in 2021 and suffering demotion from the SAFC and PIFC in 2023 and ’24.

They have managed to arrest the slide and will want to make the most of this opportunity of getting into the four.

Adrian O’Driscoll and Dan MacEoin will both be looking to continue their good recent form.

The second of the quarter-finals is on in Rossmore also today with throw-in at 5.30pm.

Gabriel Rangers and Ballinora collide in what is an interesting tie.

The West Cork side reached the semi-finals last year as they lost out to the eventual winners Glanmire. Getting back to that stage will be the very least of their targets.

Seán Kelleher is playing his best football in quite some time in midfield with club chairman Mark Cronin playing great stuff in the forward department.

Ballinora's graph has been trending in the right direction since 2023. They defeated Glenville in the relegation play-off that year before missing out on a knockout spot 12 months ago on scoring difference.

Cork senior footballer Neil Lordan is the standout player on the Ballinora team, but they have a talented bunch.

Kevin Werner, Robert Quirke and Mark O’Brien are all integral figures.

Macroom is the venue later on today for the relegation play-off between St Vincent’s and Dromtarriffe (4pm).

Both sides lost all three of their group matches with St Vincent’s hoping to avoid the drop once again having defeated city rivals Na Piarsaigh in the relegation play-off last year.

Blake Murphy single-handedly helped his team preserve their status 12 months ago. It really requires a team display here from St Vincent's.

Dromtarriffe lost to the eventual winners Aghabullogue in the semi-finals in 2023. They have found the going tough since.

In Seán Howard, Evan Murphy and Conor O’Callaghan, the Duhallow outfit will feel they have a better balanced team to prevail in this one.